Supporting structure



Dec. 29, J B QKEEFE r SUPPORTING STRUCTURE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 4, 1951 1953 J. B. O'KEEFE ETAL 2,664,147

SUPPORTING STRUCTURE Filed D90. 4, 1951 5 ShetS-SheGt 2 Dec. 29, 1953 J QKEEFE ETAL 2,664,147

SUPPORTING STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 4, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 .24 ,6 I INVENTORS.

4/5) 5 @526 1.4 Y Fe/mfi% M fl #Wd 4 Patented Dec. 29, 1953 2,664,147, U B M S'FBUQTUFF ohn B. OK efe, h c

nd ele tine 1m Crystal Lake, A li ati n wer 4, a ea anwe 15 Claims. (01. 155-12 1).

This invention relates to astructure for supporting children afliicted with cerebral palsyand the like, and more particularly to a tableand chair combination suitable" for such use.

Various table and chair combinations of this type have heretofore been proposed which require straps or ties to provide the necessary support for spastic children those afliicted with cerebral palsy-while"they-"aresitting in the chair. Furthermore because' 'o'f the need"for ties and straps, such combinations are frequently uncomfortable to the child and 'are awkward and clumsy to handlewhen seating or unseating the child. a u

It has been generally found that spastic children. when seated in a chair; have a normal tendency to cross thcir'legsin' an uncontrolled manner, thereby impairing their balance. The various chairs and chair combinations heretofore proposed have failed to satisfactorily overcome this difiiculty without resorting to the use of straps and the like.

Thus it is oneof theobjects of this invention to provide a table andchair comb nation which will afford adequate, yet comfortable, support to a child afflicted with cerebral palsy and the like without the need for straps, ties, and the like.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a table and chair combination which enables the child to be s e ate d: and unseated without delay.

It is a still further object ,of this inventionto provide a table and chaircombination which will correct the tendency are spastic child to cross his or her legs when" in ajsitting. positionand thereby materially assist the child in maintain ing his or her balance.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a table and chair combination for f a spastic child which willlnot materially interfere with the freedom of movement of the childs arms and legs. i

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a table top and leg-separating element which may be readily attached to conventional school type desks, tables, and chairs which ar presently in use.

It is a still further-object of this inventionto provide a table and chair combination which is simple and compact in construction, effective in aiding the child to overcome his orher-handicap, and is inexpensive toproduce.

Further and additional objects'will appear from the t- 9 .Qm ?.n .n$fi 1?d and appended. claims.

In accordance. withone embodiment of this invention, a, table; and chair combination is provided comprising an upright table support, an upright chair; support: operatively connected. to the table supportaridmounted in spaced .relation with respect thereto; and'aleg-separating element disposed intermediate said supports and operatiyely connected to one of said supports and adjustable with respect thereto. J

Fora more complete understanding .offthis 1-invention reference should be-made to the drawings wherein:- a s c Figure .1 is azsideeleyational view of a'table and chair combinationshowingonejform of le separating element; I

Fig. 2 is a tonplan view of Fig-.1

Fig. 3 is a :leftendzyiew of Fig; 1;-

Fig. .4:is;an emerged perspective .view of a ort tionof the table'showing'thetop thereof disen Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view'taken along line 55 .ofFig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a table andchair combination showing the legseparating element in .an inoperative position;

Fig. .7 is similar to Fig. 1 but showing a second form of leg-separating element;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary se'ctionalview taken along line 8-8 of'Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is similar to Fig. 1.but showing another form of leg-separating element;

Fig. 10 is a'fraginentary sectional view taken along line llll0' of Fig. Band Fig. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along-line H-Jl of Fig. '7.

Referring-now tofthedrawings, and more particularly to Figs.l-3, a table and chair combination I l is'shown for use primarily by children afllictedwith cerebral palsyor other forms of paralysis) The combination comprises a table II, a chair l3 spaced from said table, and a legseparat'in'g element 4 disposed intermediate the table'and chair.

The "table l2 maybe of conventional design and'comprisesan upright support or standard l 5 and a compartment lli mounted for swivel ad justment onthe uppe'r end thereof. "The com, partment l6 may'beloc'k'ed in various positions of swivladjustme'nt' relative to'the support I5 by a "locking collar 16"" which embraces the latter. The compartment [6-, as seen more clearly in Fi'gi-f4, has jqnje side, thereof, adjacent the chair lil; open sofas'tofenable books, etc. 'tobe stared; therein" "Slidably' moiiLted on the upper side-of teammate-errant is-a 't'a'ble top H which is inclined upwardly a slight amount from the chair I3. The top H is substantially flat and rectangular or square in shape, as seen in Fig. 2, and has the outer edge thereof provided with an upturned molding [8. If desired, the top ll may be constructed of slate or any other similar type of material so that the child may practice drawing or writing directly on the top with chalk and the like. The molding l8 serves to prevent pencils, chalk, or any other loose articles from being accidentally knocked off the top by the child. The edge of the top 11, adjacent the chair I3, is provided with a cutout portion which is substantially semicircular in shape and is adapted, when the top is moved to its full rear position, as shown in full lines in Fig. 1, to partially embrace the trunk of the child seated in the chair. Thus the upper portion of the child is supported by the top H, and thereby materially assists the child in maintaining his balance while sitting in an upright position. A look cooperating with the compartment and top, not shown, may be provided, if desired, for locking the latter in its full rear position.

Mounted on the underside of top I! are a pair of depending guide members 21a and H?) which are arranged in spaced parallel relationship with respect to one another and extend substantially the entire length of said top. The guides, when the top is assembled on the compartment, are adapted to slidably engage a pair of tracks 22a and 22b, respectively, which are formed on the upper edge of compartment l6, as seen more clearly in Fig. 4. An upturned flange 23 is provided along the upper front edge of the cornpartment l6, intermediate guides 21a and 21?), which is adapted to prevent fingers from being placed between the top and the compartment when sliding the former into and out of position.

The chair is may be of conventional design and is provided with an upright support 24 which has one leg 25 thereof integrally connected to one leg of the table support l5. Swivelly mounted on the upper end of support 24 is a seat 26 which is provided with an upwardly extending back rest 21. The seat may be locked in various positions of swivel adjustment by a looking collar 26' which embraces the support 24. The back rest is adapted to be disposed in close proximity with the'cutout portion 26 of top I! when the latter is in its full rear position. Thus the cutout portion 26 and back rest 21 cooperate with one another to effect almost complete enclosing of the trunk of the child.

Disposed intermediate the supports l5 and 24 is the leg-separating element I4, one form of which is shown in Figs. 1-3, 5 and 6, which comprises a body piece 23 which is hingedly mounted at point to the underside of the front edge oi. seat 26. The periphery of the underside of the body piece 28 is curved, as seen in Figs. 1 and 6, so as to enable the leg-separating element 14 to be swung down to its inoperative position. The body piece 28 is locked in various positions of pivotal adjustment by a ratchet 32 and pawl 33 combination. The ratchet 32 is secured to one side of the element l4 adjacent the hinge 30 by screws 32' or any other suitable means. The serrated edge of the ratchet 32 is engaged by pawl 33 which is rigidly mounted on a rotatable shaft 34, as seen more clearly in Fig. 5. The shaft 34 is supported in a bearing bracket 36 and has one end of the shaft 34 extending beyond the bracket 36 and terminating in a handle 35. The handle is disposed adjacent the sideof 4 the seat 26 to facilitate manipulation thereof when removing the child from the seat. The handle 35 efiects rotation of the shaft 34 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. l, and effects disengagement of the serrated edge of the ratchet 32 by the pawl 33, whereupon the element [4, due to its unbalanced condition, assumes its inoperative position as seen in Fig. 6.

Bearing bracket 36 which supports shaft 34 is substantially U-shaped and is secured to the underside of the front edge of the seat 26. Suitable braces 31 are provided for lending support to the bracket 36 as seen in Fig. 1. A portion of the shaft 34 is embraced by a coil spring 38 and effects biasing of the shaft in clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, so as to insure positive meshing between the ratchet 32 and the pawl 33. A suitabl cutout portion 43 is provided in the body piece 28 to accommodate the bracket 36 and the pawl 33, when the leg-separating element [4 as sumes its inoperative position.

A second form of leg-separating element 4| is shown in Figs. 7 and 8, comprising a substantially fiat rectangularly-shaped body piece 42 which is hingedly mounted to the table support l5 by a sleeve bracket 43,'as seen in Fig. 'I, which embraces said support. The sleeve bracket enables the body piece 42 to be swung about support it as an axis in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction through an .arc of approximately from the position of the body piece, shown in full lines in Fig.6 Mounted on the upper edge of body piece 42 adjacent the underside of seat 26, is a locking device 44, which comprises a latch housing 44', a catch 45, and a spring biased latch 45. The latch housing 44 is mounted on one side of the body piece 42 and the catch 45 is mounted on the centerline of the underside of the seat 26. The-latch 46 is adapted to seat within an opening formed in catch 45, when the body piece 42 is moved to its operative position, which is in substantially coplanar relation with the supports l5 and 24. A knob 41 is provided on latch housing 44' which, upon turning, effects disengagement of the latch 46 from the catch 45. The latch 46, which, as heretofore mentioned, is spring biased to an extended position, readily engages one or the other of the tapered sides 49 of catch 45, see Fig. 11, and is depressed thereby, when the body piece 42 is swung to its normal operative position, until it comes in registration with the opening 4'! whereupon, it will seat therein and hold the separating piece 42 in said operative position.

Figs. 9 and 10 show the body piece 42 hingedly connected to the chair support 24 instead of support I5 by a sleeve bracket 48. In other respects the body piece 42 and the locking device, shown in Figs. 9 and 10, are of thesame construction as that shown in Figs. 7,8 and 11.

When seating the child in the table and chair combination shown in Fig. 1, the table top H is pushed forward to the position shown in dotted lines, and the ratchet and pawl are disengaged by rotating the handle 35 in a counterclockwise direction, enabling the element to assume its inoperative, or down, position. The child is then placed in the seat so that his or her legs straddle the element I4. The element-is then raised to normal operating position and the table top is pulled back to its full rearward position, as seen in Fig. 2, whereupon the trunk of the child is held between the table top and back rest of the chair.

When the modified form of leg-separating elemerit II, as shown in Figs. 7andS-forFigs'9 and 10, is used the; body piece 42 is pivoted about either support itor 2'4 a suffici'ent' amount so as to enable the child tobe readily placed" on the seat behind the compartment 16; While the child is so positioned, the body piece 42 is swung back to its normal position until'the latch 46 seats itself in the opening 41 formed in the catch 45'. One leg of the 'chil'd is then lifted over the body piece 42 so that it is straddled by the legs of the child.

Thus it will be seen that a table and chair com bination has been provided which is particularly suited for crippled children, afflicted with; cerebral pa s and th'elike, and provides adequate, yet comfortable, support for such children without the need for ea-pace and the like, Fur thermore, the table and chair combination enables the child to be readily seated or wnseated andalso is helpful in aiding the child to learn how to maintain his or her balance when seated. While the leg-separating elements and slidable table top are shown used on a table and chair combination, it is to be understood, of course, that they are not limited to such structures, but may be used on tables or chairs which are entirely separate from one another. Furthermore, such elements or table tops may be incorporated in tables, chairs, or combinations thereof which are presently in use.

Further modifications of the invention may be made and it is contemplated by the appended claims to cover-any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

We claim:

1. A structure of the class described comprising an upright support having a member mounted on the upper end thereof and angularly disposed with respect thereto, and an upright legsep: rating element disposed beneath said member and operatively connected to said support for movement relative thereto.

2. A structure of the class described comprising an upright support having a member mounted on the, upper end thereof and angularly disposed with respect thereto, and an upright substantially flat leg-separating element disposed beneeth said member and operatively connected to said support for pivotal movement relative thereto.

3. A structure of the class described comprising an upright support having a member mounted on the upper end thereof and angularly disposed with respect thereto, and a substantially fiat leg-separating element disposed beneath said member and hingedly connected to said support; said element being disposed in substantially coplanar relation with respect to said support.

4. A structure of the class described comprising an upright support having a member mounted on the upper end thereof and angularly disposed with respect thereto, a leg-separating element disposed beneath said member and operatively connected to said support for pivotal movement relative thereto, and means cooperating with said element for holding same in one position of pivotal adjustment; said element being disposed in substantially coplanar relation with respect to said support.

5. A structure of the class described comprising an upright table support, an upright chair support operatively connected to said table support and in spaced relation with respect thereto, a leg-separating element disposed intermediate mounted on the upper end of said table. support said supports and operatibly connected toone of said supports'for"pivotal movement thereto, andmean's mounted onsaidelemen't and cooperating with one offsaid supports for holding said element in one'positibn of pivotaladjustment 'up'r'i ght ch'air'supp'ort operatively'fconnected to said table "support and in-spaced relation with respect thereto; andan adjustable leg=separating element operatively connected to one of said supports and disposed intermediatesaid supports and adapted to assume afco'planar relation with respectther'eto. j g i '7. A structure of the mass described comprising anj'upright table support, a member slidably and angularly disposed with respect thereto, an upright chair support operatively connected to said table support and in spaced relrtion'with respect thereto, a seat mounted transversely on the upper end of said chair support, and an upright leg-separating element disposed intermediate said supports and in coplanar relrtion therewith beneath said seat and pivotally connected to one of said supports.

8, A structure of the class described comprising an upright chair support, a seat mounted on the upper end of said support and provided with en upwardly extending back rest, an upright table support operatively connected to said chair support and disposed in spaced relation with respect thereto, a substantially flat member slidably mounted on the upper end of said trble support and angularly disposed with respect thereto for movement toward and away from said back rest, and an upright leg-separating element operatively connected to one of said supports and disposed intermediate said supports andin coplanar relation therewith.

9. A structure of the class described comprising a substantially fiat chair seat and a leg-separating element adjustably mounted on the underside of said chair seat for movement in a plane substantially perpendicular with respect to the plane of said chair seat.

10. A structure of the class described comprising an upright chair support having a substantially horizontal seat mounted on the upper end thereof, an upright leg-separrting element pivotally' mounted on the underside of said seat for movement in an upright plane, and means for holding said element in various positions of pivotal adjustment.

11, A structure of the class described comprising a chair seat and a leg-separating element adjustably mounted on the underside of said chair seat and extending forwardly and downwardly from said chair seat; said element being adjustable relative to said chair seat in a plane substantially perpendicular with respect thereto.

12. A structure of the'class described comprising an upright chair support, a seat mounted transversely on the upper end of said support, an upright leg-separating element pivotally mounted on said support and disposed beneath said seat and extending forwardly thereof, and means cooperating with said seat and element for locking the latter in one position of pivotal adjustment.

13, The structure recited in claim 12 in which the upright leg-separating element extends substantially the full height of the chair support.

14. A structure of the class described comprising an upright table support, a table top mounted on the upper end of said support and angularly disposed with respect thereto, an upright legseparating element disposed beneath said top and pivotally mounted on said support and extending outwardly therefrom, and means cooperating with said element for locking the latter in one position of pivotal adjustment.

15. A structure of the class described comprising an upright chair support, a seat mounted transversels on the upper end of said support and having an upwardly extending back rest, an upright table support operatively connected to said chair support and in spaced relation with respect thereto, a table top slidably mounted on the upper end of said table support and angularly disposed with respect thereto for movement toward -and away from the back rest or said seat, said References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,689,024 Hamilton Oct. 23, 1923 2,115,497 Mintz Apr. 26, 1938 2,591,912 Block Apr. 8, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 254,948 Germany Dec. 20, 1912 

